1
RYKER
I’m countingup today’s earnings when Kane enters my office. “She’s down at Rocky’s. Got her crew with her.”
My fists clench tightly as a stab of adrenaline zaps my body. I reach into my drawer and grab my gun—the always reliable .38 revolver.
“I warned her,” I snarl as I stand.
Kane smirks. He knows what’s about to go down, and he’s excited. “Maybe she’s making a takeover play?”
My chair slams against the wall as I rocket to my feet and snatch my coat from the rack. Teeth grinding together, I launch past my second-in-command.
“Rally the troops,” I tell him. “Meet me there.”
My heart pounds in my chest as I bust out of my twenty-million-dollar mansion and slide into my blood-red Lamborghini. I floor it and drift out of the gates onto the street.
A couple of cops doing a traffic stop just watch me run a red light and look the other way. They know who I am, and they know better than to pull me over.
I’m Ryker Vale, heir to the Vale crime family. For the last thirty years, we’ve run half of Chicago. Only now there’s a new gang in town, The Noirs, and they’re making things messy.
They came to town looking for a fight, but after a few years of trading blood, we finally reached a truce. We’ve gone five years without incident, but now their daughter, Sable Noir, is pushing the boundary lines and stirring up trouble.
I sent Kane to warn her once, but if what he says is true, she’s not listening. And tonight, I’m going to show her who really runs this city.
A fleet of black Noir-family SUVs sits out front of Rocky’s Bar as I pull up, and my rage starts boiling. What does this girl think she’s doing?
Glancing in my rear-view, I see my boys rolling up behind me as I park across the street and get out.
“How many does she have with her?” I bark.
“Six or seven,” Kane replies.
I slam a fist into my palm, embracing the pain, readying myself for war as I cross the street. My men take up the flanks like the soldiers they are. Sable might think I’m gonna go easy on her, but she has no idea what’s coming.
I nearly tear the front door off its hinges as I enter the bar. Smoke fills my nostrils, and chatter assaults my ears. Club music blares, and Noir men in black suits lean against the bar.
Rocky’s is Vale territory. It’s a front that we use to clean our dirty money. The Noir family knows this. But Sable is unhinged and crossing the line.
Well, if she wants a war, I’ll give her one.
“Point her out,” I tell Kane. I’ve never actually met Sable in person, but as soon as I’ve asked the question, I see there’s no need. Only one woman in this bar tonight could be Sable Noir, and I’m staring right at her.
Stunning would be an understatement. She’s drop-dead gorgeous. Dark hair with ice-cold blue eyes. Lush, plump, red lips, a thin neck and perky tits that are nearly spilling out of the black lace top she’s wearing.
“Fuck…”
Blood rushes to my cock as I stare. Kane shifts at my side, ready for my command.
“I know,” he chuckles. “She’s a looker—”
“Shut your mouth,” I snap, drawing a startled look from him. “We’re here to work.”
Leading the pack, I stride right up to one of Sable’s men as he’s about to take a shot and drive my fist into his side. At least two ribs crack under my knuckles. He cries out and drops like a brick, writhing in pain at my feet.
His men whirl, reaching for weapons, but Sable snaps, raising her hand in the air, “Hold.”
Her men freeze, obeying their leader’s command. She’s got them well trained, I’ll give her that.
